Man on probation arrested for car theft and drug possession

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kenyatta Jermaine Patterson, Jr., 24, and a 17-year-old girl were arrested early this morning with a car that had been stolen from the Jacksonville Aviation Authority and trafficking quantities of oxycodone.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy located the stolen Dodge Durango at the Oaks Mall Chevron at about 12:42 a.m. At the time, the car was reportedly parked in a handicapped spot, and Patterson was walking toward the Durango from the gas station. The deputy positioned his patrol car directly behind the vehicle and told Patterson to stop, but Patterson allegedly walked back inside the gas station. He was arrested, and the 17-year-old passenger was also arrested.

A search of the car reportedly produced 15.7 grams of oxycodone pills and a scale. While Patterson was in the back seat of the deputy’s patrol vehicle, the back seat camera reportedly showed him removing a small bag from behind his back; the bag reportedly tested positive for fentanyl, but the amount could not be determined because Patterson had reportedly “destroyed” it.

Post Miranda, Patterson reportedly admitted that he had gotten the Durango from a woman who is known for renting out cars in the area and that he had just picked it up five minutes before making contact with the deputy.

Post Miranda, the 17-year-old girl reportedly said she did not know the car was stolen and didn’t know anything about narcotics in the car.

Patterson has been charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, trafficking in oxycodone, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and tampering with evidence. Patterson has 11 felony convictions (none violent) and four misdemeanor convictions (none violent). He has served one state prison sentence and was released in February 2021. Following an August 2022 arrest for Percocet possession, he entered a plea of nolo contendere and was sentenced to 24 months of drug offender probation in September 2022. Judge Thomas Jaworski set bail at $202,000 on the new charges; a hearing for violation of probation has not yet been held.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.